'The Amerks have sold more than 14,100 tickets for tonight's 7:05 game against the Edmonton Road Runners at Buffalo's HSBC Arena, eclipsing the franchise record of 12,126 set when the Amerks defeated Cincinnati 3-1 in Buffalo on Nov. 5.'

'So, one evening when Deborah Patrick attended her once-a-week yoga class in suburban Buffalo, her husband, the Sabres' most experienced defenceman, went too. He thought it would be easy — a little stretching, a bunch of poses. He finished 90 minutes later covered in sweat. "I felt like I got an adjustment on my whole body," Mr. Patrick said. "It was a physical workout. I kick myself for not doing this sooner."'

'The Rochester Americans will bring hockey back to Buffalo for the holidays in late December when they host the Edmonton Road Runners in the second American Hockey League game of the season at HSBC Arena on Tuesday, December 28th at 7:05 p.m. If the contest is anything like the first Amerks game in Buffalo, the crowd is in for another historic night.'

'In addition to the $17 million offer for Empire's assets, NXT also would pay the Buffalo Sabres $8.5 million for broadcast rights to the team's NHL games. Pollack also proposed to enter into a five-year agreement with Adelphia to carry Empire's programming.'

'Buffalo Sabres fans have no choice but to think about the future. Some bright-eyed, fresh-faced kids can help in the coming days. Fans can glimpse the next generation of Sabres when the World Junior Championships begin Christmas night and the Rochester Americans make another HSBC Arena visit Tuesday. The Sabres will be represented by six prospects in the prestigious junior tournament, which will be televised by ESPN2 from Grand Forks, N.D., and Thief River Falls, Minn.'

'"We've been, as a group of players, made to understand that it's possible we might not be playing for a year, a year and a half, two years," Buffalo Sabres center Adam Mair said. "Guys are prepared for a long process – two years, five years, whatever it is. The overall sentiment right now is we're not going to agree to the salary cap."'

'I guess what I’m trying to say is that the players should comeback now. I can’t believe a group of men, no matter how many times they’ve been hit in the head can blindly follow a man like their union chief Bob Goodenow whose only job seems to be costing them millions of dollars.'

'"His skill level is beyond most guys in this league," said 13th-year veteran center Chris Taylor, Vanek's linemate the past six weeks. "Some guys, it takes two years. Some guys never adjust. It took him three weeks."'

'Attendance in Rochester is up more than 11 percent. Nine of the 28 teams reported increases of more than 10 percent since last season. Games played in NHL arenas have helped. The Amerks drew 12,126 last month for a game in HSBC Arena, including some 2,700 walk-up customers.'